Chapter 167: the true villain
It was finally morning, and the group had been split into two. They exchanged their farewells before parting ways—Trisha and the others leaving with Heimdall, while Axel and his group followed Odin.
On Axel's side, the team was reduced to three instead of four, consisting of himself, Thor, and Loki.
He recalled how Josh Roark had declined the opportunity to accompany them. Despite being offered the chance to go, Josh had chosen to remain on Earth, believing he was needed there more. Odin had not contested his decision, simply allowing him to leave by his own choice.
After all, Josh's presence was not an absolute necessity.
Now, the trio descended a long, spiraling staircase—one carved from ancient stone that glead faintly with golden inscriptions, pulsing softly under their steps. The further they went, the more Axel could feel the air shift, thickening with so sort of powerful energy.
Odin had called this place his private Bifröst.
The thought intrigued Axel. He had heard of the legendary Bifröst—the bridge connecting realms—but the idea that Odin had a personal version of it ant there were aspects of Asgard still unknown to many.
With this private bridge, Odin had explained that he would send them to a person who could help in their upcoming battle against the Void Walkers.
Thor, however, wasn't entirely satisfied with just following orders. His expression was tight with frustration as he suddenly turned to Odin.
"Why don't you co with us, if you truly are our father?" Thor asked, his voice edged with challenge.
Odin, however, remained firm, shaking his head without hesitation.
"I will not interfere in your destiny. That would be both unfair and unwise. You two need to grow without my shadow looming over you," Odin declared, his gaze calm but resolute. "Besides, I do not involve myself in wars that do not concern . That, too, would be unwise."
Thor gritted his teeth at the response, but he couldn't argue against it. Odin's words had cut through his frustration like a blade.
Loki, on the other hand, remained silent. Unlike his brother, he understood Odin's stance without needing further explanation. There was no emotional appeal in war—only strategy and survival.
Instead of dwelling on Odin's refusal, Loki got straight to business.
"The ability to defeat the Void Walkers... How can it be attained?" he asked, his voice sharp and inquisitive.
Axel had been thinking the sa thing. He had beco strong enough to take down Void Walkers with his physique and abilities, but for Thor and Loki—who weren't as physically powerful—it was unclear how they could fight such creatures effectively.
Odin folded his arms and explained, "It's simple. To hit a Void Walker, you must either have a mind completely in sync with your abilities, or you must beco far more powerful—just as the Candidate here has done."
Loki narrowed his eyes slightly.
'A straight mind?'
Thor, not one for cryptic explanations, spoke first.
"What do you an by a straight mind?"
Odin stroked his beard thoughtfully before answering.
"Void Walkers are nearly untouchable beings. Imagine trying to grasp smoke with your bare hands—it has form, but you can't hold it. They exist in a way that makes them difficult to damage. If your mind and ability are not in complete alignnt, you will never land a hit. You cannot allow emotions to scatter your energy—you must channel it into a singular, precise attack."
As Odin spoke, the logic of his words began to sink in.
Axel understood imdiately. He had fought Void Walkers before, and he realized that every ti he landed a blow, it was when his focus was absolute. Any mont of uncertainty, hesitation, or raw, unrestrained emotion would render attacks ineffective.
Loki pressed a hand to his chin in thought.
"So, all we need to do is control our energy in a stable manner instead of expelling it recklessly?" he murmured. "It's not an easy thod, but it's manageable."
Thor, however, looked perplexed. Unlike Loki, he had never been one for subtlety in battle. Precision was not his strong suit.
Loki turned to him with a smirk. "For you, big oaf, the hamr will handle it for you. As long as you wield Mjolnir, it will channel your energy properly. You just need to ensure you're the one directing the attack."
Hearing this, Thor seed to relax a little, his previous concerns easing.
Axel, now having a clearer understanding of their battle preparations, turned his thoughts elsewhere—to the real enemy behind the Void Walkers.
The one who controlled them.
The one Noel served.
'Who the hell is her boss?'
The question burned in his mind, but he had no clear answer.
After a mont of silence, he turned his gaze to Odin and finally voiced his thoughts.
"Odin, do you have any idea who is commanding the Void Walkers?"
Odin gave a knowing nod, his eyes carrying a weight of hidden knowledge. "Let's just say it is soone more connected to you than you realize."
Axel's eyes narrowed. That was not the answer he was expecting.
Before he could press further, they finally reached the bottom of the staircase, and before them stretched an awe-inspiring sight.
A vast, shimring rainbow-like bridge soared above what looked like an endless abyss of darkness. The eerie void below seed to stretch on for infinity, swallowing all light beyond the bridge's reach.
It was unlike the Bifröst Axel had heard of before. This one felt... ancient, almost as if it predated even Asgard itself.
It was clear that this was the end of Asgard—a boundary beyond which only the unknown lay.
Odin stepped forward and gestured toward the bridge.
"Now, get on," he commanded, his tone final.
Without hesitation, the three obeyed.
Axel could feel the strange energy radiating from the bridge beneath his feet, its power vibrating through his bones. Loki and Thor stood beside him, each ntally preparing for what lay ahead.
Before they departed, Odin took one last glance at them and smiled faintly.
"Co visit soti soon," he said, his voice carrying an unexpected warmth.
And with that, a surge of rainbow-colored energy erupted beneath them, engulfing their bodies in an overwhelming light.
At an incredible speed, they were launched forward, the world around them warping and twisting as they shot through the bridge.
For a mont, there was only pure, blinding light.
Then—darkness.
The next mont, they were sowhere else entirely.
A new battlefield awaited.
And with it—answers, enemies, and the next step toward victory or destruction.
***
Monts after the lights of the Bifröst faded, Axel's eyes fluttered open to the darkness that surrounded them.
His senses sharpened as he tried to make sense of their new location.
From his footing, he could tell that there was solid ground beneath him. Around him, the shapes of objects and the silhouettes of Thor and Loki were faintly visible. The lingering glow from the Bifröst provided just enough light for their eyes to adjust.
Then, a voice echoed through the dim space.
"Oh, so Odin delivers as promised—after how many years? Hahaha!"
The deep, unfamiliar tone sent a shiver down Axel's spine. He instinctively turned toward the source of the voice, his pulse quickening.
That voice... It sounded strangely familiar.
But from where?
Before he could place it, another voice followed, lighter yet equally amused.
"Yeah, that old lady always knows the perfect mont to give the right response."
Axel tensed. Unlike the first voice, this one was completely unknown to him.
Footsteps echoed softly against the ground as two figures in the room began to move forward. The light from the fading Bifröst slowly revealed their faces.
Axel's breath caught in his throat.
One of them was tall and skinny, draped in a long dark coat that swayed slightly as he walked. His boots—leather and large—clicked against the ground with each step.
The other man was far more imposing, his muscular fra unmistakable. His long red hair cascaded over his broad shoulders, and a thick red goatee covered his stern face. A large coat, much like the other man's, wrapped around his powerful fra.
The mont Axel's gaze locked onto him, everything else around him faded.
His stomach twisted.
His throat went dry.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"...Dad."
The word barely escaped his lips.
It wasn't possible.
And yet, the man standing before him was unmistakable.
For a mont, the world stood still.
Thor and Loki exchanged glances, sensing the weight of the revelation.
The towering red-haired man smirked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Hah. You still recognize , huh?" he said, his voice filled with sothing between amusent and sothing deeper—sothing almost unreadable.
Axel's hands clenched into fists at his sides. His heart pounded furiously.
"You are still alive."
Author's note:
Don't unlock the next chapter for now.
Till the end of March 2025 I'm working on it. Because the chapter is a repeat I'm fixing, and to do that I will have to rearrange everything, from the next chapter till the last.
I don't want you to have complains that's why I am dropping this, don't unlock the next chapter please. Listen to this Note.
Till April one, and if you read this you can comnt here so I will ssage you when the fix is done.
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